Isaiah 59:19, commentary and pictures

When evil presses in overwhelmingly like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord raises a divine defense to oppose and defeat it, and the result is that the Lord's name and glory are feared and honored from west to east. This promise comes where truth has fallen and justice fails with no human intercessor, so the Lord Himself brings salvation by His own arm, clothed in righteousness and salvation to repay His adversaries. The flooding enemy is Satan and evil powers with temptation, deception, lawlessness, division and despair that seem irresistible, threatening individuals, families, the church and the world. The standard lifted against him is Christ Himself in His righteousness and crucified power, upheld as truth, God's law and promises and the sword of the Spirit, and made effective by angels of light surrounding believers and bringing Scripture to remembrance in need. That help is received by looking to Jesus in helpless trust, praying and holding Scripture in heart, turning fully to God in repentance and humility, and standing day by day in faith without compromise.

Setting in Isaiah's Prophecy

Isaiah 59 portrays a time when judgment is turned backward, truth has fallen in the street, and justice and truth fail with no judgment and no human intercessor found. In that need the Lord Himself brings salvation by His own arm and sustains it by His own righteousness, coming as a warrior who puts on righteousness as a breastplate and salvation as a helmet, with vengeance as clothing and zeal as a cloak to repay His adversaries. He sees a world perishing in sin and provides salvation through His own righteous action, repaying His adversaries while His deliverance causes His glory to be made known from east to west. That divine intervention against evil surging like a flood, in which the Spirit raises a standard against the enemy, belongs to His work of bringing salvation and righteousness where justice and truth have failed, and His working among His people at the General Conference is a fulfillment of this deliverance through His Spirit.

The chapter prophesies abounding iniquity because men transgress the law and break the everlasting covenant given on condition of obedience by continual transgression. It describes the state of the world just prior to the second coming, when the end of all things is at hand and the world comes more and more under seducing spirits as men turn from God and His righteous government. God looks upon business rooms and council meetings where judgment is turned backward and truth has fallen, and He is displeased, for nothing is hidden from Him and He will not justify any evil thing, scheming dishonest plans, or unrighteous principles that tarnish His sacred places. Men professing godliness indulge their own traits of character and become self-indulgent and self-centered unless conscientiously under the control of God, so the only hope is in Him as stay and staff and strength. There must be conversion, a turning and overturning until every unrighteous principle is expelled and victory is obtained and held, and when the sanctification of the Spirit becomes the controlling power God will bless His people.

The passage defines Christ's work to save people under Satan's power and set things right. It presents the Redeemer coming to Zion and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob through God's righteous action, with Christ's redeeming grace giving power to live pure and upright lives. Christians are therefore to stand firmly against evil through blameless lives.

The chapter also describes the character of the priests and rabbis who opposed Jesus. They repeated true prophecies of the Messiah reigning in glory and having dominion to the ends of the earth, then contemptuously contrasted that pictured glory with the humble appearance of Jesus. By perverting the very words of prophecy they sanctioned error and misled many who were convinced Jesus was the Son of God.

Worldwide Reverence Promised

After God repays His adversaries, fear of the name of the Lord will spread from the west and recognition of His glory from the rising of the sun, so that His glory is made known from east to west. His victory over the enemy who comes in like a flood, met by the Spirit of the Lord lifting a standard against him, leads people everywhere from west and east to honor Him. That intervention belongs to His work of bringing salvation and righteousness where justice and truth have failed.

Worldwide reverence comes through the Messiah's saving victory revealed in Christ, the prophecy John the Baptist proclaimed concerning Him. It comes when Christ finishes making men free and pure and holy and stamping His character on the whole world, with triumphs achieved through blood shed for the world bringing glory to God and the Lamb, Christ not satisfied till victory is complete. In that setting Christ's righteousness and zeal bring salvation by confronting sin and leading sinners to recognize its evil and turn from it, rather than covering transgression.

All nations of the earth will hear the gospel of His grace, though not all will receive it. A seed shall serve Him, the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the saints, and the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord. This promise is fulfilled as God's people take the position Christ appointed them and reveal God's love by reaching out to others.

Enemy Coming Like Flood

The enemy is Satan and evil powers pressing in overwhelmingly like a flood, so that temptation appears irresistible in the battles of life and in the daily victories over sin. The flood comes with temptation, passion, wrath and deception, and with attacks by the tempter and his evil angels. In Peter’s trial Christ was his shelter and refuge and interceded for him, so Satan could not overcome him, showing that the humble prayerful learner who seeks divine help can withstand the enemy. Looking to Jesus as Author and Finisher fills the soul with peace and abiding trust in that divine defense, for temptation itself is not sin but becomes sin only when cherished or yielded to. The promise is sweet comfort to be realized continually in earnest prayer during anxiety, suffering, burden-bearing, darkness, helplessness and inactivity, meaning Jesus comes sacredly near with all-sufficient grace to bring the believer off more than conqueror, content to trust what is best and to be transformed into His image.

The flood takes the specific form of lawlessness sweeping the world, and of intemperance working ruin, and of perverted views that mistake human influence for God’s power. Within the church it takes the form of envy, jealousy, malice, suspicion, disunion and faultfinding, with Satan undermining confidence by directing minds toward suspicion and blame, and with criticism, unbelief, envy and evil surmising weakening faith. Those so weakened need a new heart, a converted soul, a new mind and a new purpose, so they can hear the Word as doers with burning desire for lowly service and evidence of love for truth. The flood also comes as spiritualistic theories presented with Scripture and as last-day deceptive efforts including apparent miracles and claims that undermine faith, requiring believers to remain rooted in Scripture and close to Christ so they are not deceived. It comes in unexpected ways even as an angel of light, and as overwhelming thoughts of sin that misrepresent God as stern and inexorable and unwilling to pardon in order to keep the repenting soul in captivity and drive him to despair.

In history the flood was the darkness, error, persecution and sin of a fallen church, met when angels searched the darkest places for honest hearts buried in error to make them chosen vessels to bear truth and cry against sin. At the Reformation this meant moving upon Martin Luther, Melanchthon and others in different places to thirst for the living testimony of God’s Word, with Luther chosen to breast the storm and stand against the anger of the fallen church and to strengthen the few faithful by turning minds from trust in works and from popes and confessors to trust in the merits of Christ’s blood and coming to God through Jesus alone. The flood is also iniquity covering all nations through indulgence of perverted appetite and control of men, met when God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to bridge the gulf sin made between earth and heaven and man and God, and increasing wickedness pressing like a torrent requires a corresponding power of righteousness. Evil unites to destroy by threatening to sweep away children, families and homes, so that only God’s power can save children and parents, teachers and church members must cooperate with Him in forming character for His service. When the enemy comes to tear down the home, the husband aids Satan by failing to sympathize with a nervous, weak, overtaxed wife and mother and meeting her depression and weariness with cold reserve, indifference and blame, but lifts the standard by manifesting interest and tenderness, lightening her burden in training children, encouraging her to lean on his affection and look to Heaven, speaking kind cheerful words that shut the door against disease and bring courage, and uniting to claim God’s promises lest unkindness, complaining and anger shut Jesus from the dwelling.

The enemy’s attack points to Christ’s ultimate defeat of the serpent and the end of his power, for in the struggle between good and evil God’s power works with human effort to enable victory through the merits of the crucified and risen Christ.

Standard Raised Against Him

When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against him as a divine defense that opposes his advance and defeats the tempter and his evil angels. After God repays His adversaries His glory is made known from east to west, and His intervention belongs to His work of bringing salvation and righteousness where justice and truth have failed and the world is perishing in sin. That work is tied to the coming Redeemer and the turning of people from transgression, with Christ's righteousness and zeal confronting sin and leading sinners to recognize its evil rather than covering transgression. When the enemy presses in overwhelmingly so that temptation appears irresistible, looking unto Jesus as Author and Finisher fills the soul with peace and abiding trust in that defense, for temptation itself is not sin but becomes sin only when cherished.

The standard is Christ Himself, who bridges the gulf that sin made separating earth from heaven and man from God by being sent in the likeness of sinful flesh. His name drives back temptation, confidence in the power of the atonement keeps a person firm in principle and integrity, and His power makes the trusting believer strong against the powers of darkness to resist temptation and overcome sin. When Satan comes against a weak trembling soul like a flood, Christ rebukes the enemy so he can have no more control over the believer, lifting the standard as mighty Conqueror and present help who knows temptation point by point. Jesus lifts up that standard for every trusting believing soul, His grace is sufficient and temptation will not exceed what can be borne, yet without that provision and without devotional thought and prayer those engaged in the important work for this time will be overcome and make mistakes.

The standard is also truth and the banner of truth held aloft by faithful men, the principles of God's Word that govern the lives of those who belong to God through Christ's blood. It is God's law, God's promises, and the sword of the Spirit met with It is written, by which Jesus helps those who look to Him so the enemy's attack is defeated and his power broken with victory given. Keeping the Word in heart and on the lips as counselor and anchor makes wise unto salvation, gives realization of the weakness of the human heart and the power of grace to subdue every unsanctified unholy impulse, keeps the heart prayerful under guardianship of holy angels, and brings harmony where truth bears sway in faith working by love to purify the soul. The Lord's promises serve as that standard for one threatened by Satan's efforts to steal hope and assurance, to be trusted with faith while doubt is resisted, and this includes the third angel's message and banner of truth that brings conversion, to be lifted in every city and suburb and in far-off destitute mission fields.

The standard is raised through angels and a heavenly messenger standing beside believers as a witness and shield of holy light with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness that Satan cannot pass or penetrate. Angels are round about those willing to be taught divine things, surrounding them and working through human beings and supporting resistance so Satan cannot approach. In time of great temptation, necessity and danger the Spirit brings to remembrance the exact Scriptural truths, promises and warnings previously learned, so that people can meet Satan with Scripture weapons. Neglect of prayer and Bible study leaves a person unable to remember God's promises and answer Satan with Scripture, while prayerful study prepares the heart to receive this rescue, and in unjust trial peace must not be spoiled by passion or retaliation that injures the soul, destroys confidence and grieves the Spirit.

God has pledged the power, grace and wisdom of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to aid the tempted, covenanting with His saints to supply power and wisdom to overcome deceptions and stand victorious. That grace is sufficient to subdue every unholy impulse and is proportioned to each present need, with strength and grace given as circumstances require. Believers are therefore to depend day by day rather than expect strength in advance for future trouble, trusting His might to make them strong to resist and overcome. Even persecution and imprisonment for faithfulness to Jesus and God's law will be met with grace as required.

Fulfilment in Christ and History

The coming of the Redeemer causes the name of the Lord to be feared from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun, for when no human intercessor is found He brings salvation by His own arm and sustains it by His own righteousness, putting on righteousness and salvation with vengeance and zeal to repay His adversaries. This prophecy of the Messiah was proclaimed by John the Baptist concerning Jesus of Nazareth, bearing witness that He is the divine Son of God and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The Redeemer so revealed comes to Zion and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, and His saving victory leads people throughout the world to honor the Lord when the enemy comes like a flood and the Spirit of the Lord rises against him.

When the enemy comes with a flood of error, persecution and sin among God's professed people, the Spirit lifts up a standard by raising living witnesses for the truth. Angels search the darkest places for honest hearts buried in error, call them to be chosen vessels to bear truth and cry against sin, and move them to thirst for the living testimony of the Word of God. This took place at the Reformation, when Martin Luther, Melanchthon and others in different places were moved upon, with Luther chosen to breast the storm and stand against the anger of the fallen church. Their work turned minds from trust in works and from popes and confessors to trust in the merits of the blood of Christ and coming to God through Jesus Christ alone, and strengthened the few faithful to their holy profession.

The same deliverance is fulfilled in the Lord's work among His people at the General Conference through His Spirit, connected with carrying the third angel's message and uplifting the banner of truth that brings conversion. When Satan attacks God's commandment-keeping people, God raises a standard against him and becomes their defense, sheltering them during the indignation until the punishment of the wicked is past, and the redeemed return to Zion with joy. When Satan comes like a flood with great power knowing his time is short, the Spirit lifts the standard through angels standing ready to help God's hard-pressed soldiers. The struggle against principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness of this world must be gone through by every follower of Christ, with unbelief and Satan disputing every step of advance and at times seeming to gain victory, yet God brings trials to draw His people nearer to Him while the controversy is waged in full view of the heavenly universe, faith conquers in the end, and the delivered rejoice in the saving power of Jehovah with songs of victory and rejoicing put in their lips.

How Defense Is Received

The defense is raised for those willing to be taught divine things, who make the Lord their Teacher and make His Word their counselor and guide, keeping it in the heart and on the lips as It is written. In the time of great necessity and overwhelming temptation, angels surround such learners and the Spirit brings to remembrance the exact scriptural truths, promises and warnings previously learned, so that Satan can be met with Scripture weapons. Prayerful study of the Bible prepares the heart to receive this rescue and makes God's promises readily remembered in temptation and danger, while neglect of prayer and Bible study leaves a person unable to remember them and makes temptation appear irresistible, so believers must seek help through Scripture and constant prayer, hold firmly to faith, and refuse compromise.

Looking unto Jesus as Author and Finisher of faith fills the soul with peace and abiding trust in this divine defense when the enemy presses in like a flood. The tempted, harassed soul who feels utter helplessness flees to Christ as a stronghold, casts the helpless soul upon Him, clings to the Mighty One, and by faith passes the temptation over to Christ and leaves it there. Faith in the Saviour's strength and miracle-working power and in the power of the atonement arms the Christian with strength to overcome as Christ overcame, makes believers strong to resist temptation and overcome sin, drives back Satan's temptations in the name of Jesus, and makes them more than conquerors, for His grace is sufficient and temptation will not exceed what they are able to bear. Temptation itself is not sin; it becomes sin only when cherished or yielded to.

Drawing near to God makes Him draw near and lift the standard, and this requires turning square about to Him with no halfway work, with the whole mind placed on the Lord's side. It calls for humility, earnest prayer, living faith in Jesus Christ that takes hold from above with thankfulness, courage rather than discouragement, confession and forsaking of wrongs rather than covering them in general terms, repentance, reform, and return to first love and first works. It belongs to those who walk in Christ as they received Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in faith abounding in thanksgiving, who press together, love one another, and remain faithful to each other and to God, and whose gratitude flows forth to refresh others so that little grievances are not noticed and larger difficulties are met in the spirit of Christ. In this way God forgives, supplies what is lacking, guards from snares, gives wisdom from above as guide, gives discernment against craft, strengthens reformatory work and the belief, faith and hope of others, revives love, keeps the believer from being made the sport of temptation and a prey to baseless delusions, and certainly pours out His Spirit.

Receiving help requires sensing danger and weakness, watching in prayer, and sending earnest longing desires to God for mercy with perseverance and determination that cannot be denied, with implicit trust and distrust of self and with circumspect conduct. At the moment of almost yielding to impatience, loss of self-control, hardness, faultfinding and accusation, especially in the home and in daily surprises, disappointments and temptations, looking to Jesus at all times and in all places with silent prayer from a sincere heart to know how to do His will brings the Spirit to lift the defense. This requires putting away hard feelings, bitterness, wrath, evil-speaking, faultfinding, accusation and retaliation, since passion and retaliation injure the soul, destroy confidence in God, and grieve the Holy Spirit, and cultivating instead meekness, lowliness, long-suffering, love, kindness, tenderness, forgiveness, humble prayerful speech, great sobriety, firmness and courtesy. In such conflict a heavenly messenger stands beside the believer as a witness and shuts him in with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness as a shield of holy light that Satan cannot penetrate or pass, while disobedience must be recognized as sin rather than seeking self-honor, so that God may set a limit to the enemy's influence amid cherished sin and uncontrolled desires.

Believers are to depend on God day by day rather than expect strength in advance for future trouble, for God gives strength and grace as circumstances require and proportioned to each present trial and need. By waiting faithful and true at the post of duty without swerving one jot, holding principle and standing on high and noble principles, refusing to live to please self, and continually grasping promises by faith, they resist the torrent of evil influence and stand on vantage ground. Staying true in this way lets Jesus work with all human effort and brings rich and abundant blessing to supply every necessity, so that even persecution and imprisonment for faithfulness will be met with grace as required.

Help in Personal Trial

The promise is sweet comfort to be realized continually in earnest prayer during anxiety, suffering, burden-bearing, darkness, helplessness and inactivity. When the enemy overwhelms like a flood and temptation presses in, Jesus comes sacredly near as ever-present help, His grace is all-sufficient, and darkness is dispelled by the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness with sweet communion and light and strength found in God. The soul stayed upon God in full assurance of belief bears suffering content to trust Him for what is best, goes from strength to strength, comes off more than conqueror through Christ, and is transformed into His image. The same defense comes in daily life when sudden surprises, disappointments and temptations come like a flooding enemy, especially in the home at the moment of almost yielding to impatience, loss of self-control, hardness, faultfinding and accusation. Looking to Jesus at all times and in all places with silent prayer from a sincere heart to know how to do His will brings the Spirit to lift up a defense, putting away bitterness, wrath and evil-speaking and giving instead meekness, lowliness, long-suffering, love, kindness, tenderness and forgiveness in dealings with wife, children and brethren, and in affliction, pain and long waking nights Jesus stands by the sufferer’s side.

The Lord Himself sets up personal defense like raising a standard to keep His servant unharmed when surrounded by objectionable corrupting influences. That keeping power brings safely through harmful influences aboard boat and ship, defending from what would corrupt and bringing through unharmed. In illness the same raising of the standard is Christ the great Physician standing beside the sufferer as bright beams of light and a shield of holy light that Satan cannot pass.

When Satan comes in like a flood to tear down the home and its happiness, the husband is by faith in God to lift up a standard against him instead of aiding his work. He aids the enemy when he fails to sympathize with the cares and burdens of a nervous, weak, overtaxed wife and mother, and meets her depressed mind and bodily weariness with cold reserve, indifference and blame, so working against his own happiness and destroying the happiness of his family and bringing misery over the whole circle. Lifting the standard means seeing the danger, knowing her cares and burdens, manifesting great interest and tenderness toward a feeble wife, lightening her burden in training the children, and encouraging her to lean on his affection and to look to Heaven for strength and peace. It means speaking kind, cheerful, encouraging words that shut the door against disease and bring courage to the desponding, bringing sunlight by his presence rather than a clouded brow, and uniting to claim God’s promises and bring His rich blessing into the family, lest unkindness, complaining and anger shut Jesus from the dwelling.

Only God’s power can save children threatened to be swept away, and parents, teachers and church members must cooperate with Him in resisting that flood when the powers of evil unite to destroy. Parents can rely on His help as they form character and lead children to serve Him, and prayer brings angels close to help the teacher stand against the enemy so the erring pupil struggling with the powers of darkness is won to Christ rather than discouraged or cut off. When rebellion presses in through wayward pupils, including classroom rebellion imparting defiance for mastery, the teacher is to be still and send the heart up in silent prayer, self-controlled and patient, refusing hasty temper and sharp words. Then angels come close to lift up the standard, quell the boisterous rebellious element and disorder, restore order, and enable kindness, gentleness and affection that gains the soul instead of discouraging and losing him, even when rebellion rises again.

When Satan refuses to let a soul escape and comes in like a flood to overwhelm the repenting soul with thoughts of sin, he seeks to keep him in captivity and drive him to despair by representing God as stern and inexorable and unwilling to pardon the transgressor. The flood is met by admitting sinfulness and coming as a little child and suppliant, answering that being a sinner gives title to come because Christ came to call sinners to repentance. It is met by believing and claiming His promise of everlasting life to whoever believes, trusting His boundless love proved by suffering and death and humiliation and exhausted curse, for He is ever near the one who so comes. A plea made in contrition of soul is never turned away, since He is willing and able to save to the uttermost all who come to God by Him.

Help for Church and Mission

When opposition rises like a flood against God's work, the Spirit raises a standard against it, opposing the forces that hinder and bringing victory over efforts to divide and undermine institutions. In the Southern field this defense keeps oppression and robbery from afflicting brethren who exalt the holy principles of the law, calling them to be strong in their important work, to watch and pray, to make straight paths for their feet, and to work with an eye single to the glory of God in individual responsibility trusting the Lord alone for success. The same help meets the struggle to secure means and harmonious united action for developing the work, and to secure united action at Loma Linda, requiring living faith that takes hold from above with thankfulness for help in the battle. At Battle Creek return to first love and first works would have brought this divine help against evil influences, allowing truth to be clearly discerned and the work of God to be strengthened. Changing circumstances never diminish God's keeping power amid suspicion, disunion, misunderstanding, misleading influence and criticism.

God's people are themselves to lift up the standard courageously in the Lord's name, as wise generalship to keep the besetting enemy in check when Satan seeks opportunity to dishonor the cause. Lifting the standard is upholding the banner of truth by the Spirit's power to oppose evil, strengthened in right principles to remain loyal in saving others, living close to Christ to warn the unwarned and help others receive salvation. Those who serve in institutions are to serve as missionaries on their ground holding up Christ and Him crucified, so that people stand firm rather than be swept away. It means cooperating with Christ to rescue those under intemperance through hopeful words and practical help, and resisting Satan's deceptive influence till he flees while standing firm on Bible requirements within God's covenant.

The standard the Spirit lifts is the standard of truth, to be lifted in every city and in every suburb, and in far-off destitute mission fields where nothing has been done. Erecting it requires acting as faithful vigilant sentinels for God, using tact and skill in methods and ways so souls receive the truth. It requires holding back nothing of time, strength or resources, using God's own entrusted money to advance the work and gain every possible assistance, and God recognizes every effort made to help lift it in return for the vast obligation owed to Him.

When the enemy overwhelms like a flood, this protection brings strength in conflict to those who obey the commandments, hold to heaven-born principles, yoke with Christ and learn His meekness and lowliness, which cuts short many conflicts. When humble trusting children draw near to God and renew their covenant, He draws near to them in pity and love, mercifully preserves them, never betrays one who trusts as a child trusts its parents, claims them as His own, forbids harm to touch them, and keeps them as graven upon the palms of His hands. Staying closely linked with Christ protects from Satan's power to overcome even when he comes deceptively as an angel of light in assemblies and churches, and those who serve faithfully and resist his schemes receive heaven's help with angels near and heaven in communication. Those who do what is right, draw near in humble trust, walk humbly in earnest prayer, add to knowledge and carry out instruction receive safety amid danger, strength human wisdom and machinery cannot give, and protection against deceptive miracle-working before probation closes, while without devotional thought and prayer workers will make mistakes and be overcome.

The protection belongs to those who by baptismal vows unite by faith with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, trust the promise, keep the commandments and remain within the covenant, asking for heavenly power to resist Satan so that he will flee. For those who belong to God, the standard is the principles of God's Word governing life, with truth ruling the heart and God's grace sufficient to subdue every unholy impulse. Surrender to His will produces faith that works through love and purifies the soul. When criticism, unbelief, envy and evil surmising overwhelm, the Spirit raises defense for those given a new heart, converted soul, new mind and new purpose, so they hear the Word as doers and are blessed and profited by it, with burning desire to do something for the Master in lowly service giving evidence of love for the truth.